baseball
Muckdogs host Drug-Free Marshals Night on Friday
The Batavia Muckdogs heartily welcome the 3rd Annual Drug-Free Marshals Night at the Ballpark, Friday, July 30. Gates open at 6 p.m. and just before the game starts at 7:05, the entire audience will be sworn in, by Senator Mike Razenhofer, as new "Drug-Free Marshals."
On the field along with Sen. Razenhofer will be Muckdogs players, little leaguers, local officials, local law enforcement and the event planner, Sue Hawley, prevention educator at GCASA Prevention.
“Everyone who participates in becoming a Drug-Free Marshal avows to remain drug-free and also encourages others to remain drug-free as well," Hawley said. "They personally sign a pledge that they bring home to their parents, grandparents or just someone they love, which states they have chosen to, and will, lead a drug-free life.”
When asked at a local park this week why taking drugs is a bad idea, some of the children in attendance replied, “because you can die,” “because they can cause cancer” and “because they can ruin your life."
“Even at such a young age, it shows that these children are well aware of the harmful effects of taking drugs,” said a camp counselor.
Hawley said she always thought that the Drug-Free Marshals program should be brought to this community.
"It is a wonderful program that targets our young children from ages 5 through 13," she said. "Traditionally teenagers are given drug education and a lot of money goes to these programs.
"The mission of Drug-Free Marshals is to talk about this subject to our younger children and have them make a promise to themselves to ‘live a drug-free life’ and ‘show my friends that a drug-free life is my choice and is more fun.'"
For more information about Drug-Free Marshals: Sue Hawley GCASA Prevention, 815-8172, or e-mail: shawley@gcasa.org.
Meet the Muckdogs: Colin Walsh
This is the first in a series of videos we're posting to help you get to know your Batavia Muckdogs players better.
Red Sox - Braves Square Off in Minor League Championship Tilt
The First United Methodist Church Red Sox squared off against the Sertoma Braves Saturday in the Paul E. Sputore Batavia Minor League championship game.
Teams stand on the sideline during National Anthem
as a stiff breeze unfurls the flag
Chandler Baker started on the mound for the Red Sox
under the watchful eye of battery mate Brianna Janes
Alex Kunes started on the hill for the Braves
with assistant coach Dan Kunes keeping an eye on the action.
Braves supporters
the Red Sox faithful
Here's something you don't see everyday - a Red Sox fan in pinstripes!
after taking a pitch, Alex Frongetta turns to get the call
his reaction speaks volumes
score keeper checking out the action from the press box
Andrew Francis takes over mound duties for the Sox and like Chandler, does an effective job.
With his team leading, coach Vin Misiti remains intense, not ready to celebrate....
until now!
kneeling, l to r, Mike Alvut, Chandler Baker, Sammy Bartz, Bryce Reigle, Andrew Francis, Luke Grammatico and Spencer Misiti. Back, l to r, assistant coach Vin Misiti Jr, head coach Vin Misiti, Maya Urban, ass't coach Jeff Bartz, Alex Frongetta, Tanner Cook, ass't coach Mike Francis and Brianna Janes.
Vin takes several moments to adress both players and parents, reflecting back on the season.
and a special thanks to these fellas, Paul and Louie, whose behind the scenes work and dedication make the Batavia Minor League possible.
Muckdogs take 2-0 lead into sixth, but can't hold on
Another strong pitching effort from starter Justin Edwards, but the Batavia bullpen was unable to protect a 2-1 lead and the Muckdogs (16-15) lost to Williamsport Tuesday, 8-3.
Edwards went six innings and allowed only one unearned run. Travis Lawler was charged with a blown save, giving up two hits and one run, but the Muckdogs were really buried when David Kington came on and gave up three hits, walked three and surrended six runs.
The only Muckdog to post a multi-hit game was Nick Longmire, who went 2-4, scored two runs and smacked his fourth triple of the season.
The Muckdogs return home Sunday to face Williamsport.
Muckdogs need only one run in the first inning to secure win
One run on an RBI single by hot-hitting catcher Audry Perez in the first inning was all the scoring the Batavia Muckdogs needed at Dwyer Stadium on Monday to notch the team's 16th win of the season.
The Muckdogs (16-14) rode nine innings of scoreless ball by four pitchers to move within two games of the visiting team, first-place Jamestown Jammers (18-12).
Venezuelan Jose Rada, four years in the Cardinals, but in his first season with the Muckdogs, walked one but didn't surrender a hit in the ninth to pick up his sixth save and lower his ERA to 0.98.
The biggest noise of the night came from a group of Jamestown Jammer fans sitting high up in the first-base-side bleachers, cheering on their team in the top and bottom half of every inning -- for eight-and-half innings (pictured below).
Folks, everyone of you reading this who hasn't been to a game yet this season needs to go to at least two. Or we're going to lose our team. Not only is it a lot of fun, and shows great community spirit, but it's also a chance to see future major leaguers up close. This past All-Star Game included 22 players who came through the NY-Penn League.
More pictures after the jump:
Muckdogs blow past Red Sox, 16-2
The Batavia Muckdogs showed up at Dwyer Stadium last night with their hitting shoes on, slapping around 15 hits and scoring 16 runs to drop the Lowell Red Sox 16-2.
The victory moved the Muckdogs to 13-13 for the year.
Nick Longmire hit his fifth home run of the season and he had, along with Joey Bergman and Colin Walsh, three RBIs.
Rainel Rosario had three hits and drove in a pair of runs.
Justin Edwards went seven innings and surrendered two runs to pick up his second win and lower his ERA to 2.93.
Tonight is fireworks night as the Muckdogs play one more home game against the Boston Red Sox farm team. On Saturday, longtime NY-Penn League rivals Jamestown open a three-game series at Dwyer.
Batavia All Stars drop district championship in Geneseo
Batavia's Little League All Stars put up a heck of a fight in a seesaw battle that hung in the balance until the final out, but the District Championship victory still went to Geneseo, 9-8.
More pictures after the jump:
Muckdogs win 15th-inning shootout
After pushing a 2-2 tie into the 15th inning last night, Batavia and Staten Island lit up the scoreboard with seven runs in the decisive inning.
Fortunately for the Muckdogs, the balance of the runs tipped their way, giving them their 11th victory of the season, against 13 losses.
The 6-5 victory was powered by first basemen Victor Sanchez. The San Diego State University product hit a three-run blast in the 15th for his first home run of the season.
Yunier Castillo added what proved to be a much needed insurance run with a single later in the frame, driving in Adam Melker.
Relief pitcher and Riverside, Calif., native LaCurtis Mayes, in his third season with the Muckdogs, got the win. He's now 2-1.
Colin Walsh, playing second base, picked up three hits, as did third baseman Jonathan Rodriguez. Right Fielder Melker also had three hits, and Sanchez had two.
The Muckdogs return to Dwyer Stadium tonight to begin a six-game home stand, starting with a three-game series against the Red Sox farm club from Lowell, following by three games against longtime NY-Penn League rival Jamestown.
Wednesday is Volunteer Firefighters' Night. There will be fireworks after Friday's game. Saturday features a sun-visor giveaway, a community sleepover and music by Papa and Mama Root.
Tonight's Muckdogs vs. Tigers game postponed due to rain
Tonight's Batavia Muckdogs game versus the Connecticut Tigers has been postponed due to rain.
The two teams will play a double-header tomorrow night starting at 5:05. They will play two seven-inning games, with the second starting a half hour after the conclusion of game one.
The fireworks originally scheduled for Friday’s game will occur after the game on Saturday, July 31st versus the Jamestown Jammers. That night’s game is scheduled for 7:05, with gates opening at 6 p.m.
Muckdogs pick up win on the road, 9-6
Andrew Moss, perfect in his last outing, wasn't quite as perfect Monday night, but good enough to notch his third win of the season.
The Batavia Muckdogs beat Tri-Cities 9-6 behind the hitting of catcher Audris Perez, a third-year pro out of the Dominican Republic. Perez had three hits, driving in four base runners.
Second baseman Colin Walsh had the team's only other multi-hit game with two singles. Walsh, a first-year pro from San Diego and a product of Stanford, recently joined the team from Johnson City.
For the second time of the season, Nick Longmire homered in the lead off spot. It was his fourth homer of the season.
Moss went 5 1/3 innings, surrendering three runs on three hits, but he also walked five batters.
Jose Rada fanned two hitters in the ninth to pick up his fourth save.
The Muckdogs are in Tri-Cities again tonight, have Wednesday off and start a three-game home stand Thursday against Connecticut.
Muckdogs blanked 4-0 on fireworks night
There were plenty of fireworks at Dwyer Stadium tonight, unfortunately, they didn't come while any Muckdogs were at the plate.
Four Auburn pitchers shutdown Batavia's offense, as the Doubledays (8-8) picked up a 4-0 win over the home squad in front of more than 1,500 fans.
Starter Justin Edwards, of Guyton, Ga., and making his second swing through Batavia, held the Doubledays to only four hits in 5 2/3 innings, but he also walked three and the lone run he surrendered was enough to tag him with the loss.
Batavia is now 7-9, but trailed first place Jamestown (9-7) by only two games in the Pinckney Division.
The Muckdogs will be out of town for July 4, starting a three-game series against Tri-Cities.
The team returns home July 8 against Connecticut.
More pictures after the jump:
Muckdogs starter tosses a gem
Andrew Moss, a 24-year-old, second-year pro from Piedmont, Mo., dazzled at Dwyer Stadium tonight.
Moss went seven innings -- the typical NY-Penn League starter is pulled after five innings -- and surrendered not a single hit, and of course, no runs.
The Muckdogs notched a 3-0 victory, with Jose Rada tossing two scoreless innings, giving up one hit, and picking up his second save of the season.
Moss (2-1) lowered his ERA to 1.69.
Joe Bergman, 22 and in his first pro season, picked up two hits. The second baseman is now hitting .394.
Catcher Luis Miguel De La Cruz, a fourth-year pro from the Dominican Republic, and in his second tour with Batavia, homered and picked up two RBIs on two hits.
The Muckdogs are now 6-7 and open a three-game series against Auburn, also 6-7, on Thursday.
There is no home game on July 4, but there will be fireworks following the games on Friday and Saturday nights.
Photos: Challenger Baseball
Challenger baseball opened last weekend, but I wasn't able to make it, so I stopped by the games today to take some pictures.
More pictures after the jump:
Muckdogs drop third straight in extra innings
The Batavia Muckdogs dropped its third straight game at Dwyer Stadium, losing to State College 4-2 in 10 innings.
Second-year pro Keith Butler, of Morgantown, Ky., surrendered two runs in the top of the 10th to get tagged with the loss.
Reliever Nick McCully was impressive in four innings, striking out three and giving up only two hits.
Meanwhile, the Cardinal's 5th-round draft pick, San Diegean Nick Longmire, continued his hot hitting. Today, Longmire had two hits, including a triple and a run scored that tied the game 2-2 in the 7th inning.
Longmire tops the league in several offensive categories, including hits (15), triples (3), home runs (3), RBI (16; next best is 9), total bases (33; next best, 23), slugging (.892). He's second in average at .405.
The Muckdogs, now 4-6 and in last place in the Pinckney Division, begins a three-game home series tomorrow against Mahoning Valley. Auburn leads the division at 5-4, only a 1.5 games ahead. Mahoning Valley comes to town with a 4-5 record.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the Muckdogs host Auburn. Friday and Saturday's games feature post-game fireworks. This no home game on Sunday, July 4, so the team is providing an extra fireworks show on Saturday.
Top photo: Longmire arrives at third base after his 7th inning triple.
More photos after the jump:
Longmire's slam lifts Muckdogs to 6-3 victory
A grand slam home run in the 7th inning from Nick Longmire broke a 2-2 tie and powered the Batavia Muckdogs to a 6-3 victory over Mahoning Valley on Thursday.
It was Longmire's third HR of the season, giving him the league lead, and with 14 RBI over the first seven games, he's well ahead of any other player in that category as well.
The Muckdogs are in second place with a record of 4-3.
Jose Rada (1-1) threw three scoreless innings to pick up the win. Starter Kevin Siegrist went five innings and gave up two runs.
Left fielder Rainel Rosario had three hits.
Batavia faces off against Mahoning Valley again tonight, and then return home tomorrow to begin a five-game home stand. First up, State College. Game time Saturday is 7:05 p.m.
Muckdogs fail to hold late lead, drop second straight
Reliever Jose Rada was handed a one-run lead in the eighth inning Tuesday and let it slip away, surrendering two runs to State College and giving the Batavia Muckdogs their second straight loss.
Batavia (2-3) lost 5-4 to the Spikes (2-3).
The only Muckdogs with two or more hits Tuesday were catcher Audris Joel Perez, with three, and DH Adam Melker, with two. Perez had 2 RBIs and a stolen base.
No Muckdog managed an extra base hit.
Starter Ron Russell went four innings and gave up two earned runs. Reliever Travis Lawlor gave up one run in three frames.
The Muckdogs are in State College again tonight. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
Longmire's offense not enough to lift Batavia over State College
Nick Longmire's lead off home run at State College on Monday night might have provided a spark, but it wasn't enough to carry the Batavia Muckdogs to victory.
Batavia (2-2) dropped the game 8-7.
Longmire provided most of the offense, going 4-5 and driving in four runs. He also tripled and stole a base.
Shortstop Yunier Castillo added two hits and two RBIs.
Starter Nicholas McCully surrendered two runs on three hits in five innings. Houston Summers was charged with a blown save after giving up three runs in two innings, but because the Muckdogs regained the lead while he was still the pitcher of record, he could have picked up a win.
But reliever David Kington was also tagged with a blown save and a loss after giving up three runs on four hits in his one inning of work.
The victory was the first of the year for State College (1-3).
The Muckdogs have two more games at State College before moving on to Mahoning Valley.
Muckdogs out score Auburn, 10-8
The Batavia Muckdogs (2-1) put 10 runs on the board in Auburn on Sunday to edge out the Doubledays (1-2), 10-8.
Victor Sanchez, Patrick Biserta, Matt Valaika each contributed a pair of RBIs while outfielder Jon Edwards smacked two doubles in a three-hit performance.
Anthony Ferrera (1-0) picked up the win in five innings of scoreless relief. Starter Matthew North lasted only one-and-a-third innings, yielding six runs.
